Coin-mat



W. B; JOHNSON.

' COIN MAT.

No. 583,481. Patented June 1,1897.

' Qwvawboz q vmwoea 0 I 2 an $2 1 NITED STATES IVALTER B. JOHNSON, OF FREDERICKTOIVN, OHIO.

COIN-MAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,481, dated June 1, 1897.

Application filed July 9, 1896. Serial No. 598,556. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER B. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing-at Fredericktown, in the county of Knox and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Mats; and I do de clare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to coin-receiving mats; and its object is to cause pieces of coin thrown upon it to assume an edgewise position, or if the coin should come to rest horizontally its position will be an unstable one, from which it may be readily tilted edge up.

The object of my invention may be differently explained by stating that on no part can a coin be received upon an entirely flat surface, from which it would be inconvenient to pick it up with the fingers. I accomplish this object by employing a surface formed into contiguous convex lens-shaped projections and surrounding the surface by a raised edge, as fully described hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters designate like parts throughout the different views, Figure 1 represents a top plan view; Fig. 2, a vertical section showing solid lens-shaped projections fixed upon the bottom of a pan; Fig. 3, a vertical section showing the lens-shaped projections formed by stamping a sheet of malleable material by means of suitably-actuated dies.

Considering Fig. 1, A designates the raised edge of a flat pan B of any chosen shape and fashioned of any appropriate material.

0 marks the lens-shaped projections fixed upon the plate, usually arranged alternately close to or touching each other. They are simply plano-oonvex pieces in the form of spherical segments glued or riveted in place.

It is clear that by employing mechanism designed for the purpose the modifications shown in Fig. 3 could be fashioned by methods commonly in use at the present time.

I am aware that coin-mats are in public use which possess projecting flexible or rigid pins,

and I do not claim those features.

The operation may be described as follows: A coin or number of coins tossed upon the plate, as represented in Fig. 1, will be received in either of two positions. If one edge falls upon the curving and inclined side of a projection, the coin comes to rest with the opposite edge raised, (see coin E, Fig. 2,) and it may obviously be easily picked up. Should the coin fall in such a manner as to remain horizontal, touching the surfaces of any three projections, (see coin E, Fig. 1,) its position is manifestly one from which it can be tilted and picked up as easily as in the first-stated instance.

A coin lying fiat upon a plane and wet or sticky surface can with difficulty be picked up by the fingers, and I am aware that change mats or receivers constructed of rubber and metal have been used in this country, but I am not aware of the existence of any form of coin-mat resembling my invention.

WVhat I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A coin-mat consisting of a base-plate provided on its upper surface with projections arranged alternately in close order, each projection having the form of a spherical segment, as described.

2. A coin-mat consisting of a plate having portions raised in the form of hollow spherical segments arranged alternately in close order, said plate having also a raised edge, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IVALTER B. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM L. GIBSON, GEORGE L. MARPLE. 

